2025-2026 Graduate Catalog Biological Sciences

All master's degree students are required to complete a research thesis and at least 30 semester hours, which must include at least 2 semester hours of BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at https://coursefinder.illinoisstate.edu/directory/bsc/ and sequence specific requirements below). 

General Biological Sciences Sequence

The Master’s sequence in General Biological Sciences allows students flexibility to integrate coursework across diverse fields in the Biological Sciences.

This 30-hour sequence requires:

• 2 hours of BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at https://coursefinder.illinoisstate.edu/directory/bsc/).
• 4-6 hours of thesis (BSC 499)
• Individual plan of study dictating additional coursework (22-24 hours) designed in consultation with advisors, in addition to the general requirements above.

Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (BEES) Sequence

Students may elect to pursue a sequence in Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, a course of study that provides students with a strong conceptual background in whole-organism biology. The sequence is designed to enhance students' understanding of the underlying concepts that unite research in the areas of behavior, ecology, evolution, and systematics while providing the opportunity for training in specific taxa and in subjects ranging from molecular and cellular biology to neurobiology, physiology, and advanced research techniques.

This 30-hour sequence requires:

• 2 hours of BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at https://coursefinder.illinoisstate.edu/directory/bsc/).
• 4 hours of thesis (BSC 499)
• 7 hours of sequence core courses: BSC 420A27, BSC 470, and BSC 490
• 9-12 hours: chosen from BSC 404, BSC 405, BSC 406, BSC 418, BSC 425, BSC 427, BSC 450A48, BSC 475/476, BSC 486
• 5-8 hours of elective courses are selected through consultation among the major professor, the student's committee, and the student

Bioenergy Sciences Sequence

This course of study provides students with a strong conceptual background in biological and environmental aspects of using and engineering plants and microbes for the production of bio-based fuels. Students successfully completing this sequence should be competitive for admission into Ph.D. programs and/or for acquiring bioenergy-related jobs in industry, non-profits, government agencies, or academia. Students can choose between a biotechnology-based track and an ecology/conservation biology-based track.

This 30-hour sequence requires:

Biotechnology-based track

• 20 hours: BSC 453, BSC 465, BSC 415, BSC 419, BSC 420A38, BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at https://coursefinder.illinoisstate.edu/directory/bsc/), BSC 450A45, BSC 453, BSC 454, BSC 465
• 4 hours of thesis (BSC 499)
• 6 hours of electives

Ecology/Conservation Biology-based track 

• 19 hours: BSC 404 or BSC 405, BSC 406, BSC 420A27, BSC 420A38, BSC 465, BSC 470, BSC 490
• 4 hours of thesis (BSC 499)
• 7 hours of electives

Biomathematics Sequence

This cross-disciplinary sequence provides students with a unique and strong cross-disciplinary training in biology and mathematics. The sequence is designed first to give students a solid foundation in mathematics (core courses), then training in one of two biological areas that use specific types of mathematical applications to address biological questions (emphases). Before entering the sequence, students should have two semesters of calculus and one semester of linear algebra.

This 32-hour sequence requires: 

• 2 hours of BSC 420A36 
• 4 hours of thesis BSC 499 
• 14 hours of sequence core courses: MAT 440, MAT 442, MAT 448, and MAT 451. Transfer credit can be offered for the core math classes provided that students take at least two courses from the Mathematics Department while at Illinois State University. 
• 12 hours of electives from two areas of emphasis. A minimum of 12 non-thesis hours must be from the School of Biological Sciences. A minimum of 14 hours (not including 499) outside of the core courses and BSC 420A36 must be at the 400 level. 
• Biological Statistics and Modeling area of emphasis: with a choice of courses from BSC 404, BSC 405, BSC 406, BSC 443, BSC 450A37, BSC 450A51, BSC 470, BSC 486; MAT 450, MAT 453, MAT 455, MAT 456, MAT 457, MAT 458, MAT 459, MAT 462
• Computation and Bioinformatics area of emphasis: with a choice of courses from BSC 453, BSC 415, BSC 447 with concurrent enrollment in BSC 420A40, BSC 450A53, BSC 454, BSC 455, BSC 470; MAT 459, MAT 461, MAT 463

Biotechnology Sequence

This sequence provides training in Biotechnology, a discipline linking biochemistry, molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, cell biology, genetics, and their biomedical and agricultural applications. It is designed to enhance students' competency in fundamental principles, strategies, and techniques applied widely across biotechnology and medical research.

This 30-hour sequence requires: 

• 1 hour of BSC 420Axx 
• 4-6 hours of thesis BSC 499 
• 16 hours of sequence core courses: BSC 415, BSC 420A40, BSC 447, BSC 450A45, BSC 453, and BSC 454,  
• 7-9 hours of electives, to include at least one course in the area of genomics or bioinformatics (BSC 450A53, BSC 455, BSC 457, or advisor-approved topics course in that area).

Conservation Biology Sequence

This sequence is a discipline linking ecology, genetics, evolution, and systematics to applied problems in biodiversity preservation and ecosystem function and maintenance.

This 30-hour sequence requires:

• 8 hours of sequence core courses (BSC 406, BSC 420A29, BSC 490/BSC 420A27) 
• 4 hours of thesis BSC 499 
• 1 hour of another BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at https://coursefinder.illinoisstate.edu/directory/bsc/). 
• 17 hours of elective courses distributed across four groups (I-IV) of electives. Group I (Ecology): BSC 404, BSC 405, BSC 475/476. Group II (Genetics and Evolution): BSC 470. Group III (Taxon Focus): BSC 401, BSC 496 . Group IV (Other Electives):  BSC 408, BSC 425, BSC 453, BSC 486; GEO 403, GEO 404, GEO 405

Neuroscience and Physiology Sequence

This sequence provides students with a strong conceptual background in these two fields of biological sciences and is designed to enhance students' understanding of the canonical concepts that underlie neuroscience and physiology, including biostatistics, while providing the opportunity for training in related fields such as cell and molecular biology, chemistry, behavior and psychology.

This 30-hour sequence requires:

• 2 hours of BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at https://coursefinder.illinoisstate.edu/directory/bsc/). 
• 4-6 hours of thesis BSC 499
• 10 hours of sequence core courses (BSC 430, BSC 435, BSC 490, and BSC 420A27) 
• 12-14 hours of sequence elective courses chosen from BSC 411, BSC 415, BSC 447 with concurrent enrollment in BSC 420A40, BSC 450A37, BSC 450A39, BSC 450A47, BSC 450A50, BSC 450A51, BSC 470, BSC 472, and BSC 486. To complete these 14 hours of sequence elective courses, no more than two of the following may also be taken: BSC 401, BSC 425, BSC 427, BSC 443, BSC 445, BSC 453, BSC 454, BSC 455; CHE 442, CHE 444; PSY 418, PSY 421, and PSY 468. 
• Additional elective courses are selected through consultation among the major professor, the student's committee, and the student. For further information, see the School's website at https://biology.illinoisstate.edu/

Degree requirements include:

• 4 hours of BSC 420Axx Graduate Seminars (See list of options at https://coursefinder.illinoisstate.edu/directory/bsc/ and 
  sequence specific requirements below)
• 30-40 semester hours of coursework 
• Take and pass the Ph.D. qualifying exam 
• 15+ hours: BSC 599 
• Other university requirements for Ph.D. degrees are listed elsewhere in this catalog

Doctoral students may design an individual coursework plan of study in consultation with advisors (General Biological Sciences Sequence), or they may elect to pursue a specific sequence within the Ph.D. program in (1) Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (BEES), (2) Molecular and Cellular Biology, or (3) Neuroscience and Physiology, each of which includes specific requirements (see below).

General Biological Sciences Sequence

The General Biological Sciences sequence allows students flexibility to integrate coursework across diverse fields in the Biological Sciences.

Degree requirements include:

• Individual plan of study dictating additional coursework designed in consultation with advisors, in addition to the general umbrella requirements above.

Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (BEES) Sequence

The sequence is designed to enhance students' understanding of the underlying concepts that unite research in the areas of behavior, ecology, evolution, and systematics while providing the opportunity for training in specific taxa and in subjects ranging from molecular and cellular biology to neurobiology, physiology, and advanced research techniques.

Sequence requirements include: 

• 7 hours of sequence core courses (BSC 420A27, BSC 470, and BSC 490) and 3 additional sequence courses (9-12 hours) chosen from BSC 404, BSC 405, BSC 406, BSC 418, BSC 425, BSC 427, BSC 450A48, BSC 475 /476, BSC 486 
• Elective courses (unspecified hours) are selected through consultation among the major professor, the student's committee, and the student

Molecular and Cellular Biology Sequence

The sequence is designed to enhance the student's competency in molecular and cellular biology principles, techniques, and their application for becoming leaders in solving tomorrow's problems in molecular cell biology.

Sequence requirements include:

• 8 hours of core courses (BSC 415, BSC 447, BSC 420a37, BSC 420a40)
• at least three graduate elective courses (8-11 hours). Elective courses will be selected from the area of the student's specialization and will be decided by the student in consultation with their advisor and/or student dissertation committee. Elective courses may be selected from among, but not limited to, the following representative courses: BSC 418, BSC 425, BSC 443, BSC 445, BSC 451, BSC 447, BSC 453, BSC 454, BSC 455, BSC 457, BSC 461, BSC 463, BSC 464, BSC 467; CHE 440, CHE 442, CHE 444, CHE 445

Neuroscience and Physiology Sequence

The sequence is designed to enhance students' understanding of the canonical concepts that underlie neuroscience and physiology, including biostatistics, while providing the opportunity for training in related fields such as cell and molecular biology, chemistry, behavior and psychology.

Sequence requirements include: 

• 6 hours of sequence core courses (BSC 430, BSC 435)  and one additional sequence course (3 hours) chosen from BSC 450A37, BSC 450A39, BSC 450A47, BSC 450A50, BSC 450A51.
• 2 additional sequence elective courses chosen from BSC 411, BSC 415, BSC 447 with concurrent enrollment in BSC 420A40, BSC 450A37, BSC 450A39, BSC 450A47, BSC 450A50, BSC 450A51, BSC 470, BSC 472, BSC 486, and BSC 490 with concurrent enrollment in BSC 420A27.
• Additional elective courses, such as BSC 401, BSC 425, BSC 427, BSC 443, BSC 445, BSC 453, BSC 454, BSC 455, BSC 467, BSC 496; CHE 442, CHE 444; PSY 418, PSY 421, and PSY 468,  are selected through consultation among the major professor, the student's committee, and the student. For further information, see the Department's website at  https://biology.illinoisstate.edu/

Graduate students in the School of Biological Sciences may elect to pursue a Biology Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Graduate Certificate. To earn the certificate, students must take GEO 403 or GEO 463, GEO 404, and GEO 405 or GEO 465.